Key points at the Labor conference

The party will debate allowing grassroots members to preselect candidates for the Senate and state upper houses, as well as direct election of conference delegates. Some argue this will erode union power. Bill Shorten is expected to endorse an easier process for joining the ALP, but is resisting pressure for broad reform of the party. There's also the possibility of an attempt to bind federal MPs to vote in support of legalising gay marriage, which didn't happen during platform debate on the issue.

* PALESTINE

The national platform calls for a two-state solution and for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace within secure borders. But federal frontbencher Tony Burke is expected to move that if no change is made towards a two-state solution and Israel continues to build and expand settlements, Labor will consult like-minded countries about moving towards establishing a Palestinian state.

* REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN

There's expected to be some argy-bargy over the best way to meet Bill Shorten's commitment that by 2025 half of Labor's parliamentary representatives will be women. Emily's List has been campaigning on this for quite some time.

Conference attendees will channel their inner right-wing shock jock and bring out their favourite "stupid arguments" for an event run by the Australia Institute on the sidelines. The institute's Ben Oquist and Richard Denniss and federal MP Terri Butler will show how to rebut economic arguments that rely on "common sense" and anecdotes.

* INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

The conference's focus turns to Labor's roots with debate on the industrial relations section of its platform. Expect to hear a lot about the Work Choices - Work Choices on the sea, Work Choices in the air, Work Choices for truckies...